Lions vs Stampeders Picks and Prediction – 6/9/2023

The BC Lions visit the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday in the opening game of the 2023 CFL regular season. Last season BC finished second in the West division at 12-6, three games behind first place Winnipeg. Nathan Rourke is no longer under center for BC and the Lions will now be led on offense by quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. Other additions on both sides of the ball make the Lions a solid contender.

Vernon Adams Jr passed for 1,504 yards with six touchdowns and one interception last season and will be the focus of the Lions offense. James Butler is no longer with BC but Anthony Williams and Tavien Feaster will both see plenty of action at running back. Bryan Burnham has retired, but in 2022 three receivers caught more than 1,000 yards worth of passes and all three returned, including Dominique Rhymes, Lucky Whitehead and Keon Hatcher.

The Calgary Stampeders finished the 2022 regular season 12-6 but were only 1-5 versus teams that finished ahead of them. However, those five losses were to Winnipeg and BC by just a total of 19 points. Last season Calgary led the CFL in rushing with 2,436 yards, averaging 135.3 yards per game led by Ka’Deem Carey with 1,088 yards. Jake Maier returns as the starting quarterback.

Defensively Calgary is very strong up the middle with linebackers Alex Singleton, Juwan Simpson and Wynton McManis. Veteran Micah Awe was brought in to replace the departed Jameer Thurman at middle linebacker. A pair of excellent pass rushers were lost during the offseason however, Calgary signed Julian Howsare who is a defensive end and will pressure opposing quarterbacks. Defensive back Titus Wall, who missed most of last season with an injury, returns as one of the Stampeders best members of the secondary.